awww hun im sorry to here that, thats the last thing you need right now i hope things work out....he'll probably end up in a much better job anyway...try to keep positive, they say things happen for a reason so maybe a better paid job is waiting for him! good luck xx

ur entitled upto 13wks off for dependents up until the age of 5, thats governement law so if they have got rid of him for that and he hasnt gone over the 13 wks (check it is 13, pretty sure it is though) you have grounds for unfair dismissal and the company need to be informed of this and either give him his job back or you take them to court for unfair dismissal. call the local citizen advice tomorrow to clarify the situation.

this is from Acas

What is parental leave and who qualifies?

Employees who have completed one year's service with their employer are entitled to 13 weeks' unpaid parental leave for each child born or adopted. The leave can start once the child is born or placed for adoption with the employee or as soon as the employee has completed a year's service, whichever is later. It may be taken at any time up to the child's fifth birthday (or until five years after placement in the case of adoption). Parents of disabled children can take 18 weeks up to the child's 18th birthday.

Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:17 pm

SueT66

ED YUMMY MUMMY

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:53 amPosts: 11698

Also from Acas

What rights do employees have while on parental leave?

Employees remain employed while on parental leave and some terms of their contract, such as contractual notice and redundancy terms, still apply. At the end of parental leave they have the right to return to the same job as before or, if that is not practicable, a similar job which has the same or better status, terms and conditions as the old job. Where leave is taken for a period of four weeks or less, the employee is entitled to go back to the same job.

Wherever possible, employers and employees should make their own agreement about how parental leave will work in a particular workplace. Such agreements can improve upon the key elements set out above but they may not offer less. Employees can complain to an employment tribunal if their employer prevents or attempts to prevent them from taking parental leave. They are also protected from dismissal or detrimental treatment for taking or seeking to take it.

Being entitled to 13 weeks parental leave does not give employees the right to time off whenever they choose - it has to be agreed (or, at the very least, the employer must be informed) in advance. If the absence was taken unauthorised, or was classed as sickness at the time or some "other" reason, the employer may be well within it's rights to dismiss.

Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:22 pm

SueT66

ED YUMMY MUMMY

Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:53 amPosts: 11698

I agree but I read that Janice was saying that the company was dismissing him because he was taking time of to look after the kids. Obviously these things can come up fairly quickly so the company and employee has to be flexible. that is why I suggested speaking to the local CAB to see if they do have a case and that the company is working within the legal parameters.
From my own experience some companies try to get away with things and also from my own personal experience workers don't offer challange as they seem to think that the employer must be right.

Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:28 pm

MiffyR

ED member

Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 4:53 pmPosts: 61

Do get in touch with your local CAB.

There is something called "time off for dependents" for which you dont need to give notice. Would need to check the details but esstentialy if there was no one else to look after the other kids then he could take the time off with no notice. It is unpaid though.

Also has he been made redundent or sacked. The company need to have been through a formal disciplinery procedure with both verbal and written warning before he can be sacked.

Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:19 am

hollyu

ED HOTTIE

Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 9:28 amPosts: 7149Location: Woking, Surrey

I'm pretty sure that is illegal, My husbands a director for DHL and the amount of courses he has been on about colleagues rights in the work place. I agree go to the CAB

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Fri Jun 09, 2006 10:22 am

kittycatarino

ED MODERATOR PM ANYTIME

Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2005 8:06 pmPosts: 15211

Hope you take the advice given and try and get things sorted because by the sounds of it the company seems to have acted wrongly.